On the morning of February 21, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc chaired an online conference “Promoting the development of agricultural product processing industry and agricultural mechanization”. The conference was attended by nearly 500 delegates representing ministries, departments and branches; People's Committees of provinces and cities; representatives of some typical institutes, schools, associations, industries, businesses and cooperatives.
Processing and preservation are still weak
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc proposed to discuss why not good mechanization? Why are some localities doing well, others are not yet done? Many policies for this area but not focused. “The State needs to focus on the policy that is considered a” steel punch “to remove obstacles, develop the mechanization and processing of agricultural products even better,” the Prime Minister emphasized.
Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Xuan Cuong said that in the past 10 years, industry and agriculture have developed strongly, applied in many stages of the agricultural production chain. Agricultural product processing industry is the foundation for agriculture to change strongly, from self-sufficient to export. Vietnam's agricultural products have been exported to more than 180 countries and territories, including demanding markets such as the US and the EU. However, according to Minister Nguyen Xuan Cuong, processing and preserving of agriculture, forestry and fisheries in Vietnam are still weak. Most businesses have not been proactive in supplying raw materials to ensure quantity and quality. Processing capacity for some industries is still weak, not yet fully used processing capacity, not meeting the demand. Processing technology level is generally at the average level of the world; many processing facilities of many products are over 15 years old; Post-harvest losses are still large (10% -20%). Mainly processed products are still semi-processed with low added value; The mechanism and policy are not attractive enough to invest in processing agricultural products.
Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Do Thang Hai said that Vietnam currently has to import nearly 70% of its machinery for agriculture, of which 60% is from China, the rest is Japan and South Korea. Therefore, the development potential of the food industry, agro-forestry and fishery processing as well as the application of agricultural mechanization to enhance processing value is enormous.
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc visited and encouraged laborers on the farm of Dong Giao Export Food Joint Stock Company Photo: Quang Hieu
Need preferential loans
Mr. Tran Ba Duong, Chairman of Truong Hai Automobile Joint Stock Company, said that in the past time, some organizations “rescued” agricultural products but the rescue would cause loss of morale, even the spirit of freedom. of market economy production. “If doing business and waiting for rescue, it is not business. Farmers need to participate in the business chain under the market mechanism to have a more appropriate production direction, ”Mr. Duong said.
Ms. Thai Huong, the founder – Chairman of TH Group's Strategic Council – suggested that agriculture needs a change in thinking, which is a breakthrough, not to follow the old path. According to Huong, talking about technology is not enough, it must be scientific management, to sell products, it must have a brand. “The Government needs to have specific incentive policies on specific products. At the same time, the government needs to develop a set of national standards and norms according to international practices so that the quality of products will be raised, and agriculture will be developed sustainably ”.
Mr. Dinh Cao Khue, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Dong Giao Export Food Joint Stock Company (DOVECO), recognized the material area that decides the existence and development of a processing factory. Regarding mechanization, he suggested that the Government should assign schools, institutes; on applied research, assigned to large domestic enterprises to perform to provide agricultural enterprises. “We buy machines from Germany, the US, when broken, they must be sent to repair or invite experts to, very long and expensive,” – said Khue.
Mr. Nguyen Hoai Nam, Deputy General Secretary of the Fisheries Association, wants the Government to direct the State Bank to review and re-evaluate to have a more “open” policy to agriculture. Mr. Doan Xuan Hoa, Vice President of Vietnam Association of Agricultural Mechanics, suggested that the Government need a separate decree to support processing enterprises linked with farmers to access preferential loans for mechanization and processing equipment.
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc directed that after the conference, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development chaired, together with other ministries and branches, to study, draft and submit to the Prime Minister instructions on the development strategy of the processing industry and agricultural genderization to 2030, a decree on policies for the processing industry and mechanization in agriculture. According to the Prime Minister, promoting the export of fresh agricultural products is very necessary but deep processing is even more important in order to add value, create conditions for the development and expansion of export markets, minimize the situation. “falling season”. Besides, the Prime Minister especially emphasized the role of the domestic market in the coming time, considering this as a top priority for a good quality and health-assured agricultural product. “Nowadays, it is impossible to do small retail. We cannot sell in baskets. Agricultural products that want to go to big supermarkets must have material areas. In the near future, the Government will submit to the National Assembly on land accumulation. This is a huge problem ”- the Prime Minister affirmed.
The Prime Minister also asked the State Bank to study the support policy early, extend the loan period, reduce interest rates, because the profit margin of agriculture is very low.
Rice brand hard to come to users
According to Mr. Huynh Van Thon, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Loc Troi Group, there are businesses with good rice, which is traceable but very difficult to access into traditional distribution channels (households and individual business households) for bringing here, the team will be charged an additional 5% because these two subjects have not been included in the tax declaration list. “Proposing to the Government and the General Department of Taxation to include these two subjects in Decree 91 so that the majority of consumers will have access to delicious rice. This is the shortest way to build a rice brand, ”said Mr. Thon.
